You have to go back to September 2005 for the last time Wigan won at Goodison Park - that is eight fixtures ago - and their prospects don't look particularly rosy in terms of improving on that record. Manager Roberto Martinez will very likely rotate his personnel to give those who fired them to the last eight another chance with the knock-on effect of hopefully not jeopardising their battle for Premier League survival. A price of 15/2 is offered for the Latics to win this with the hosts no better than 4/9 but it is to the goalscorer markets that we look for some inspiration. The eye-catching Kevin Miralles is improving with each game on Merseyside while striker Nikica Jelavic's barren spell will surely end sooner rather than later. But it is the versatile Leighton Baines who is a tempting to score at anytime. He has already found the target against Cheltenham and Oldham in the competition this season while he has scored three times in the last eight meetings against this particular rival. This has the makings of a comfortable home success and Baines, with his surging runs into dangerous areas and shooting prowess, should get ample chance to add to his tally.

City are the shortest price of the weekend to progress to the semi-finals at 2/13 and are expected to sweep lower-league opposition aside for the third time in the competition this season. Roberto Mancini's hopes for back-to-back Premier League titles will need an almighty blunder from Sir Alex Ferguson's side but the prospect of some silverware in the Cup is now well within reach. Championship strugglers Barnsley stand in their way and they have absolutely nothing to lose here having done well with just two defeats in 10 games since manager David Flitcroft got the job on a full-time basis. Those two losses have been high-scoring affairs recently and their ability to keep out City for any length of time has to be open to serious doubt. Past form is of little value as it is years since these two met but even without the superstar signings, City won the last three matches by an aggregate of 15-2. The hosts have won three on the bounce since fluffing their lines badly at Southampton, an upturn that has coincided with the return to the fray of Carlos Tevez. The Argentine has scored in all three outings and although I would expect his spree to continue, a top price of 8/11 to net anytime is giving nothing away so a watching brief is the ultimate outcome.

Readers' Comments

till I suppose it still gives him at least another year in the job. By the time it comes around , he can always make up another excuse. First it was 3 months , then a year .....Next year ? Whats his excuse with Van Persie ?